Amber Luong named associate dean for Faculty Affairs
Amber Luong, MD, PhD, has been appointed associate dean for Faculty Affairs at McGovern Medical School, effective Sept. 1.
“Luong is an accomplished physician-scientist, educator, and academic leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to faculty development, mentorship, and academic excellence throughout her career,” said LaTanya Love, MD, dean of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professor in the Medical Sciences. “I am pleased to congratulate her on this appointment and look forward to working with her as she helps strengthen and support our outstanding faculty community.”
Luong is a professor and vice chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and holds a joint appointment in the Center of Immunology and Autoimmune Diseases at The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases.
“As a physician-scientist, Dr. Luong brings a valuable new perspective to Faculty Affairs and will strengthen the resources and support we provide to faculty across the school,” said Kevin Morano, PhD, senior vice president for Academic and Faculty Affairs and the Roger J. Bulger, MD, Distinguished Professor at UTHealth Houston and senior associate dean for Faculty Affairs at McGovern Medical School. “We are delighted to welcome her to the team and look forward to the expertise and ideas she will contribute.”
Luong earned her MD/PhD from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where she conducted her doctoral research under Nobel laureates Michael Brown, MD, and Joseph Goldstein, MD. She completed her residency in otorhinolaryngology at UT Southwestern before pursuing fellowship training in rhinology at the Cleveland Clinic.
An internationally recognized leader in rhinology and immunology, Luong’s research focuses on the role of the innate immune response in chronic rhinosinusitis, with particular emphasis on the role of environmental fungi in initiating inflammatory responses. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, the Triological Society, and industry-sponsored multicenter clinical trials.
Throughout her career, Luong has been recognized with numerous honors, including completion of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program in 2020, the Helen F. Krause, MD, Memorial Trailblazer Award from Women in Otolaryngology, the Women Faculty Forum Excellence Award, and the Edmund Price Fowler Award from the Triological Society for outstanding basic science research.
Luong has been a dedicated mentor and advocate for faculty development, helping cultivate academic success through leadership, scholarship, and collaboration. Her experience in academic leadership and her commitment to fostering faculty excellence make her exceptionally well suited for this important role.